Everton are far enough away from the top half and the bottom three that their Premier League season is basically said and done, but there's still something bigger to play for.
This weekend, Goodison Park will sing for the Everton Men's team one last time. Relegated Southampton make the trip, sure to enter a cauldron of chaos as the Toffees say goodbye to their long-held home ahead of the move to Bramley-Moore Dock this summer.
The change of scenery represents a very real juncture in the club's history, with David Moyes back at the helm and tasked with a rebuild that will see plenty of ins and outs before the 2025/26 campaign.
Everton manager David Moyes before the match
While fans are hoping to see a new striker walk through the gates, Everton need a variety of talent, with an exciting midfielder identified already.
Everton chasing new midfielder
According to TEAMtalk, Sunderland's Dan Neil is on Everton's radar ahead of the summer transfer window, although a move would likely be dependent on the outcome Black Cats' Championship play-off final tie against Sheffield United.
Dan-Neil-Sunderland
That said, Neil's contract expires at the end of next season and his side would prefer to cash in while they can. This opens a road from which Everton can travel to claim the talented midfielder's signature.
Due to the player's contract situation, he may even be available for a cut-price fee of £15m this summer.
What Dan Neil would bring to Everton
Neil, 23, has played a crucial role in Sunderland's rise from League One. His breakthrough actually came during the promotion-sealing season of 2021/22, and he's now featured 196 times for his boyhood club, clinching 32 goal contributions.
Dan-Neil-Sunderland
Hailed as a "joy to watch" on the field by Sunderland reporter Phil Smith and as "phenomenal" by fellow EFL star Luke Molyneux, Neil's all-round game is something that could really impact the Everton midfield, with his sharp eye for a pass, strong defensive qualities and knack for driving the ball forward and creating space for teammates a particular skill set that Moyes has made good use of in the past.
Indeed, Neil could actually prove to be the manager's next version of Declan Rice, who might play for Arsenal now but made his name in east London, synonymous with West Ham United's rise in Moyes' system, instrumental in winning the Conference League in 2022/23.
League Stats 24/25 - Dan Neil vs Declan Rice
Stats (* per game)
Matches (starts)
Goals
Assists
Touches*
Pass completion
Big chances created
Key passes*
Ball recoveries*
Dribbles*
Tackles + interceptions*
Duels (won)*
Stats via Sofascore
Rice is clearly the more creative player, and he's playing top-flight football besides, but Everton fans aren't expecting Moyes and the board to conjure up a signing carrying the elite-level status of the Gunners' main man in the middle.
Rather, they just want to see progress, and that is exactly what Neil would provide if placed in the Everton centre. As you can see, he's athletic, tenacious in the duel and willing to dribble the ball forward, with a crispness in possession that Moyes will need to help with his transitional play next year.
Moyes' man management ability is second to none, and after several years of promise in the second tier, Neil is surely ready to step into the big time as an Everton player, where he could thrive as the centrepiece of a growing project.
Tim-Cahill-Everton Related
[He'd be Moyes' next Cahill: Everton plot move for "incredible" EFL star](https://www.footballfancast.com/hed-be-moyes-next-cahill-everton-plot-move-for-jason-knight/ "He'd be Moyes' next Cahill: Everton plot move for "incredible" EFL star")
Everton could be about to land a player who could follow in the footsteps of a former fan-favourite.